DEAR REV. GRAHAM: My marriage lasted less than a year, and afterward some friends said they hadn’t thought it would last that long. I’m not sure what happened. I’d like to get married again, but I’m afraid things would end up the same way. What should I do?

R.P.

DEAR R.P.: I’m glad you’re concerned about this, and I sincerely hope you won’t plunge thoughtlessly or quickly into another marriage. The Bible wisely says that “the prudent give thought to their steps” (Proverbs 14:15).

The best advice I can give you is to commit your life and your future into God’s hands. Elsewhere in your letter, you acknowledge that God has never been important to you. But you are important to God, and He loves you and wants to help you make good decisions - not just about marriage, but every part of your life. Perhaps God will use your failed marriage as a “wake-up call” to help you realize your need of Him. By a simple prayer of faith ask Christ to come into your life today - and He will.

Then commit your future into His hands. Begin by asking Him to help you understand what went wrong with your marriage, and then to help you remedy it. Were you interested only in yourself? Were you insensitive toward your wife and her needs, or was she insensitive to you? Your friends may be able to help you analyze this.

In addition, seek out a church where Christ is honored and you can meet others who will help you grow spiritually (and also socially). Most of all, ask Christ to help you become the kind of person He wants you to be. The Bible says, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).